Buckle



NOV- 7 1933- D. E. HoRoBlN 1,933,808

BUCKLE Filed Deo. 20, 1932 Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITED STA Y BUCKLEV Dean Eardley Horobin,

.Melbourna Victori Application December 20 and in Australia Claims.

Thisl invention relates to prongless or friction grip buckles 'suitable for interconnecting the ends of straps, waist belts, wrist bands and the like and for ayariety ofl analogous purposes,

5 without necessitating the` puncturing of the strap, belt or the like asA is required with the conventional style or 'pronged or tongued buckle.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved prongless buckle that may beI quickly and easily manipulated to interconnect the ends of a strap, belt or other article, and enables a fastening to be obtained which will be proof against inadvertent disconnection and slipping of the strap or belt through the buckle.

A buckle in accordance with the invention has the further advantage, as will be apparent hereinafter, of being remarkably simple and inexensive in construction.'

The improved buckle consists of two frame like members, the upper or outer of which is of substantially D shape and the lower or inner of substantially U shape, or their equivalents; These frames, are adapted at their rear ends for retention to one end o1 a strap, belt or the like, in such mannrr as to permit the outer or upper frame to swingabout its rear end in relation to the lower frame whereby a transverse bar at the front oi the upper traine may extend in substantially the same plane as, but slightly rearwards of, a front transverse bar of the lower frame in order to grip the other end portion of the strap, belt or the like after it has been passed between the transverse bars.

The upper or outer member is preferably constructed and arranged as to have a substantially bell crank action whereby the placing of the strap, belt or the like in tension, after the free end thereof has been passed between the front transverse bars of the two frames, automatically causes the upper frame to swing about its rear end towards the lower frame, whereby the free end portion of the strap or belt is tightly gripped by and between the iront transverse bars.

To increase the effectiveness of the grip in order to prevent inadvertent disconnection of the fastening and slipping of the strap or belt through the buckle, the transverse front bars of the frames may be so formed as to provide a wedgedike grip of the strap or belt by and between the two transverse bars.

Referring to the drawing which forms part of this specification:-

Figure l is a perspective View of a buckle in Middle' Brighton, a, Australia 1932, Serial No. 648,109,

October 21, 1932 C17. afi-.7191) accordance with one practical embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side View of the buckle.

Figurev is a rear view oi' the buckle.

Figure 4 is a plan.`

Figure 5 is a iront view.

Figure 6 is a side sectional View showing the buckle applied to a v strap and in a fastening position.

Figure '7 is a se Figure 6. Y

Figure 8 is a side view of the bu a modification.

Figure 9 is a plan oifligure 8.

Figure 10 Vis a iront view of Figure 8.

` In the drawing' the lower or inner frame is shown as being formed from a single length of wire of suitable gauge bent into substantially U shape so as to have two opposite side legs 3, Il united at the front by a transverse bar 6,y the rear ends of the 75 legs being rolled or turnedback to provide eyelets 7. YThe widthof the inner `frame` should slightly exceed that of the strap, belt or the like 8 with which the buckle is to be associated so that the eyeletsl r1 may lie contiguous to the side edges of 80 that end portion ofthe strap to which the bucklev ction taken on line VII-#VII of ckle according to is to be retained. y I l I The upper or outer frame may advantageously be formed from another single length of wire and is preferably of substantially Dy shape, having two opposite side legs 11, 12 united at their front ends by a fron-t transverse bar 13 and two rear transverse bars 14, 16, which extend inwardly towards each other from the side legs after passing through the eyelets 7 or" the lower frame. These 90T' rear transverse bars may terminate approximately midway of the width of the buckle and may be bent downwardly and outwardly in a transverse direction, terminating short of the respective side legs. The rear transverse bars 14, l", constitute the pivot or axis for the upper frame, and the outturned end portions 14a, 16a of the bars constitute the short arm of Ythe bell crank, the other arm oir which is constituted by the side legs 1 the front transverse bar 13. g

One end portion of the strap, belt or the like 8 is passed between the side legs of the frames and looped around the rear transverse bars le, 16 and outturned portions 14a, 16a of the upper frame 10'5 and suitably fastened by a rivet 17, staples, sewing or other suitable means so that the rear transverse bars and the outturned end portions thereof extend transversely and rotatably within the loop 18 K of the strap or belt, with the outturned portions l, 12 and .10D

14a, 16a projecting inwardly or downwardly in their normal position.

The length of the upper frame vfrom rear to front is preferably slightly less than that of the lower frame so that when the former is swung about its rear towards the lower frame the front transverse bar 13 of the upper frame will lie contiguous with but slightly rearwards of the frontbar 6 of the lower frame.

The free end 19 of the strap, belt or the like is `passed outwardly between the front transverse bars 6, 13 of the frames and may be inserted through a keeper 21 applied to the buckle end of the str-ap or belt as indicated by unbroken lines in Figure 6 or may be turned inwardly between the side legs of the frames to lie against the inner side of the belt or the like as indicated by broken lines in Figure 6.

As tension is placed upon the strap or belt, thev lower or inner part of the looped end 18 of the belt or strapxtends to move the outturned portionsllo., 16a of the rear transverse bars 14, 16 rearwardly, thus giving rise to a bell crank action on the part of the outer frame whereby it is caused toswing downwardly or inwardly about the axis furnished by its rear transverse bars 14, v16, and thus cause the front bar 13 of the upper frame to grip the strap against the Vfront transverse bar 6 of the lower frame with a wedge-like action.` The greater the tension placed upon the belt or strap the greater will be the grip eilected by the transverse bars due to the bell crank action of the outer frame as aforesaid.

To increase the security of the fastening and to prevent possibility of the belt or strap slipping through the buckle the iront transverse bars 6, 13 of the two frames may be so formed as to produce a wedge-like grip upon the belt. For instance, as indicated in Figures 1 to 8, the front transverse bar 13 of the .outer frame may be curved or inclined inwardly from its side legs to its centre. Alternatively, the front transverse bar 6 of the inner frame may be stepped outwardly from its side legs 3, as in Figures 8,' 9 and 10, while the front bar 13 of the outerA frame may be straight or, if desired, it may `be curved slightly rearwards from its side legs to its centre.

Although it may be preferred for the sake of cheapness to construct the frames from single lengths of wire as aforesaid, it will be evident that they may, if desired, be produced as metal stampings or otherwise as may be found desirable.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isz- 1; An improved prongless buckle consisting of two superposed frames, namely, an inner frame comprising two opposite side legs joined at the front by a transverse bar, and an outer swinging frame of substantially bell crank lever form comprising two opposite side legs joined at their front by a transverse bar, rear transverse members which extend from the rear ends of said side legs and are pivotally connected to the rear of the inner frame, and portions on said rear transverse members forming a short arm of the bell crank, the rear transverse members of the outer frame being adapted to extend within a looped end of a belt, strap or the like, whereby the placing of the belt or the like in tension after its free end has been passed between the Vfront transverse bars of the two frames automatically causes the outer frame to be swung about its rear transverse members towards the inner frame .so as to bring the front transverse bar of the outer frame contiguous with but slightly rearwards of the front transverse bar of the inner frame to thereby grip the belt or the like by and between the two transverse bars.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said side legs of the inner frame are providedat their rear ends with eyelets, and the outer frame has two axially aligned rear bars extending inwardly from its side legs through said eyelets or bearings, these bars having back turned end portions.

3. A device accordingY to claim 1 wherein the front transverse' bars of the two frames are so formed as to effect a wedge-like grip upon the end of the belt or the like passed between them.

` 4. Adevice according to claim 1 wherein the iront transverse bar of the outer frame is inclined downwardly from its side legs to its centre.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein the front transverse bar of the inner frame is stepped outwardly'in relation to its side legs.

' DEAN E. HoRoBIN. 

